Mouth drooping to one side is a typical symptom of facial nerve palsy - Illustration photo
If not treated promptly, the risk of sequelae such as facial muscle spasms or long-term nerve damage is entirely possible.
Sudden facial numbness and mouth distortion: Signs of facial nerve palsy
A 27-year-old patient from Thanh Xuan, Hanoi came to MEDLATEC Thanh Xuan General Clinic with unusual left facial paralysis. Three days before, the patient felt numbness in the face, accompanied by a heavy head and fatigue.
On the morning of admission, the symptoms became more severe: the mouth was crooked to the right, the left eye was dry and sore, unable to close, and had a mild headache. However, the patient did not have a fever, dizziness, nausea, or movement disorders.
According to medical history, the patient had no history of chronic illness, and the family had no record of diseases such as cancer or stroke.
MSc. Nguyen Thi Huyen Thu - neurologist - found typical signs of peripheral facial nerve palsy (Bell's palsy) on the left side of the face: blurred forehead wrinkles and left nasolabial folds, left eye not completely closed, middle eye deviated to the right - typical Charles-Bell sign.
The doctor said that cold factor could be the culprit, especially in the current context in Hanoi - the time when the temperature often drops and cold wind has just passed.
Based on clinical and paraclinical data, Dr. Thu diagnosed left peripheral facial nerve palsy, from which he proposed a treatment plan for peripheral facial nerve palsy.
A case of facial paralysis after bathing at night - Photo: BSCC
Many young people have peripheral facial nerve palsy.
Cranial nerve 7, also known as the facial nerve, plays an important role in controlling the muscles of the face, from frowning, closing the eyes, smiling to whistling. When this nerve is damaged in the peripheral part (outside the brain), the ability to move one side of the face will be affected.
Although not life-threatening, the disease can cause many complications that affect the patient's aesthetics and daily life. Patients may experience a distorted mouth and facial asymmetry due to facial muscles being pulled to the healthy side.
In addition, patients also lose the ability to close their eyes completely, causing dry eyes and corneal ulcers. Some cases are also accompanied by taste disorders, reduced salivation, tears or facial muscle spasms if not treated promptly.
According to Dr. Thu, the cause of peripheral facial nerve paralysis can come from many factors:
- Exposure to cold : Cold air can cause inflammation and swelling of the nerves or constriction of the blood vessels that nourish them, leading to ischemia, nerve compression and paralysis of motor function. This is a common cause especially in winter or when the weather changes.
- Infections : Diseases such as otitis media, mastoiditis, parotitis, or viruses such as herpes zoster (shingles) can attack the nerve, causing direct damage.
- Trauma and tumors : Although less common, head injury or compressive tumors are also factors to consider.
According to Dr. Thu, regarding the treatment of peripheral facial nerve palsy, patients have a good prognosis if treated early, with the possibility of almost complete recovery within 2-3 months.
If there is a delay in the examination and detection of the disease, the risk of leaving sequelae such as facial muscle spasms or neurodegeneration is very likely to occur.
Patients should avoid exposure to cold, keep the head and face warm, and closely monitor in the early stages to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment. As for rare cases such as bilateral facial paralysis, more complex diseases such as Guillain-Barré syndrome should be considered, requiring in-depth diagnosis through cerebrospinal fluid testing and neuromuscular electromyography.
Realizing the serious harm caused by nerve paralysis complications, Dr. Thu issued a warning to the community about protecting health in adverse weather conditions: as soon as people see typical symptoms of the disease such as facial paralysis, crooked mouth... they need to go to the nearest medical facility immediately for examination, diagnosis and treatment at the early stage, to prevent dangerous complications.
Nowadays, Bell's palsy is becoming more and more common in young people due to unscientific living habits. Many singers, artists, and healthy people have encountered this situation.
Bathing late at night, letting the fan or air conditioner blow directly on your face, or going outside in the cold without keeping warm can cause facial nerves to become inflamed and swollen, easily leading to facial paralysis.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/vi-sao-khong-nen-tam-khuya-de-dieu-hoa-thoi-vao-mat-2025040316432454.htm
Comment (0)